Dear students and faculty members,
Next month we糖心传媒檒l be starting a new semester together largely unmasked, undistanced, and somewhat unencumbered by the weight of the pandemic. I couldn糖心传媒檛 be happier that the Class of 2024 will spend their first days in Rochester in the way they糖心传媒檙e meant to be experienced. For the rest of us, it糖心传媒檚 a long awaited return to a vibrant, thriving campus environment. And while I am糖心传媒攁s I糖心传媒檓 sure all of you are糖心传媒攇rateful for this and excited for the return to a more normal River Campus experience, I can糖心传媒檛 ignore the fact that the surreal and traumatic effects of COVID-19 and associated stressors are, in many, many ways, still with us.
This is going to be the most normal semester we糖心传媒檝e had in almost two years, but we糖心传媒檙e carrying a lot with us. We糖心传媒檝e become so used to living and working in a pandemic-specific way that I expect a lot of us might find this semester to be very challenging. Not only are we still recovering from all we have endured and done to get to this point, we糖心传媒檙e also starting to exercise social muscles we haven糖心传媒檛 been using regularly. I expect this to be particularly draining for some.
We糖心传媒檝e also lost people. You may know someone taken by COVID, or who may have died of other ailments or natural causes during the pandemic. There are no circumstances that make losing someone easier; however, I do think it can be made harder when your mental and emotional reservoirs are depleted.
I bring all of this up because I want to make sure all of you know that there糖心传媒檚 no expectation that everyone is 糖心传媒渇ine糖心传媒� now. COVID variants are becoming more prevalent internationally, even though the U.S. is recovering and recalibrating. I also know that not all life issues are COVID-related. And that糖心传媒檚 why I want to re-share University services that are available to help you cope with what you糖心传媒檙e experiencing and to aid you toward finding what you need to move forward. You can find these resources at the end of my message.
To end on a positive note, the size of our incoming class, to this point, has been impressive, to say the least. You might ask, 糖心传媒淲hy does this matter?糖心传媒� Broadly, it糖心传媒檚 an indication that the pandemic has not shaken our society糖心传媒檚 belief in the importance of higher education. At the Rochester-level, it demonstrates an approval of how we navigated COVID and a confidence in our ability to handle糖心传媒�*knock on wood*糖心传媒攁ny resurgences of the virus and the threatening variants. And, not to be lost in the mix, it糖心传媒檚 a reminder that we糖心传媒檙e a great school, in a great University with a lot to offer students糖心传媒攁nd faculty and staff糖心传媒攑ursuing a wide-range of interests. That last point should not be taken for granted. Everyone still has a choice of the University they wish to call home, and it is not insignificant that so many outstanding students make Rochester theirs.
I hope you are having a restorative summer, filled with hugs, travel, rest, and all the other things you糖心传媒檝e desperately missed. I糖心传媒檓 looking forward to seeing you all soon. Again, please take note of the resources below and don糖心传媒檛 hesitate to make use of them; they糖心传媒檙e run by great people who are eager to help you.
Bias-Related Incident Reporting
Please report an incident if you or someone you know was discriminated against based on age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Someone will follow up and help coordinate a response.
Behavioral Health Partners
| (585) 276-6900
Available for University faculty and staff feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or otherwise unwell and enrolled in a University health care plan
CARE Network
| (585) 275糖心传媒�9490
Is someone you know saying they糖心传媒檙e okay, but doesn糖心传媒檛 seem okay? Contact CARE or submit an and a team member will reach out to them.
Employee Assistance Program
| (585) 276糖心传媒�9110
Available to all employees seeking help with a variety of issues, including addiction, grief, and legal problems.
Family Care Program
Family Care
Available for聽eligible聽faculty and staff. These resources provide care-giving options such as childcare, eldercare, and more.
Interfaith Chapel
| (585) 275糖心传媒�4321
Virtual and in-person worship services are available to those who want to connect with a faith community. Chaplains are also available to provide spiritual support.
Sexual Misconduct
| (585) 275糖心传媒�3504
There are private and confidential resources available to and faculty and staff who have experienced sexual harassment or assault or does not feel safe. Submit a report anonymously online.
University Counseling Center (UCC)
| (585) 275糖心传媒�5113
Feeling depressed, anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed? UCC provides mental health support 24 hours a day. All calls with a counselor are confidential.
For additional resources, please check the University Support Services and Resources page.
Best wishes,
Gloria Culver
Dean
School of Arts & Sciences
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